Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh has been hard at work at filling out his coaching staff. The Titans landed their top offensive coordinator target in Brian Daboll. Elsewhere, Saleh hired a familiar face in Aaron Whitecotton to be his defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator, per Paul Kuharsky.
Whitecotton coached the Dallas Cowboys' defensive line in 2025, placing him on the same staff with Titans GM Mike Borgonzi's brother, Dave Borgonzi. This will also mark the fourth different time Whitecotton and Saleh have worked together. They crossed paths for nearly eight combined seasons in shared stints with the Jaguars, Jets, and 49ers.
Saleh and Whitecotton will work together on their shared vision of the Titans' defense. One player they could target in free agency is Denver Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers. Franklin-Myers' history with Saleh and Whitecotton makes it easy to project him into the Titans' lineup.
Titans coaching staff could target John Franklin-Myers in free agency
Franklin-Myers played three complete seasons (2021-23) for the Jets with Saleh as his head coach and Whitecotton as his position coach. The former Stephen F. Austin standout was at his most productive in their defense. Franklin-Myers produced 14.5 sacks throughout that three-year stretch.
It marked career-best production for Franklin-Myers, but he was traded to the Broncos in 2024 and has since continued trending upwards. Franklin-Myers registered 7.0 sacks in 2024, and a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2025. He played with the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game defeat to the Patriots last weekend.
His two-year, $15 million contract with the Broncos is scheduled to expire in March. The Titans may have spots to fill on the defensive line next to Jeffery Simmons. T'Vondre Sweat is a questionable fit in Saleh's defense, and both Sebastian Joseph-Day and James Lynch are on expiring contracts themselves.
The Titans should be open to bringing Joseph-Day and/or Lynch back, but Franklin-Myers would also qualify as a stellar upgrade. Franklin-Myers has been incredibly consistent as a pass rusher. His existing relationship with Saleh and Whitecotton makes him a potential target in free agency.